With over three million viewers glued to the TV, the series “We at Rione Sanità” won over the Rai 1 audience. The story, inspired by the figure of Don Antonio Loffredo, tells of his extraordinary ability to restore hope and dignity to the Rione Sanità of Naples, a neighborhood known for its social difficulties and crime. The character of Don Giuseppe, played by Carmine Recano, is in fact a fictionalized portrait of the priest who led the rebirth of the neighborhood.
Don Antonio’s vision and method
Don Antonio Loffredo, who held the role of parish priest in the Rione Sanità from 2001 to 2022, proudly tells how the series is a faithful reflection of his spirit and vision, founded on trust in young people and on the active involvement of the community, in particular mothers. His efforts to recover the neighborhood also pushed the screenwriters to draw inspiration from the stories of his children, collected in the book “Vico Exclamazione”now re-released under the series title.
Social initiatives in the Rione Sanità
In addition to his religious career, Loffredo gave life to numerous social initiatives in the Rione Sanità, such as the San Gennaro Foundation, which deals with offering growth opportunities to young people. Among these, a boxing gym stands out, which the boys themselves had requested. In this way, Don Antonio has created a real ecosystem that aims to improve the lives of young people through sport and culture, in a neighborhood marked by poverty and violence.
The transformation of the neighborhood
The series, despite some artistic license, faithfully reflects these elements, showing the strength of hope and collective commitment. In the Sanità district, the young people of the “La Paranza” cooperative have transformed the neighborhood into a tourist destination, discovering forgotten historical places, such as the catacombs, and offering visitors a new vision of the area.
New projects in Naples
But Loffredo’s commitment did not stop at Rione Sanità. The priest is now carrying out similar projects in other areas of Naples, such as the Fondazione Napoli C’entro and the Museo Diocesano Diffuso project, which aims to enhance the historical and cultural heritage of the city. Even in these new initiatives, young people are protagonists, creating new job and growth opportunities for them.
Influence in cinema and documentaries
Don Antonio was also a source of inspiration for the character of Don Luigi in the film Nostalgia by Mario Martone, where Francesco Di Leva won the David di Donatello for best supporting actor. Furthermore, his story is told in the documentary I can come in. An Ode to Naplesby Trudie Styler, where the real lives of some of the kids protagonists of the series are explored.
From business to priestly vocation
Finally, Don Antonio reflects on his youth: growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, his destiny seemed to be in business. But at 25, he took a completely different path, becoming a priest. Although far from the business world, his approach to the parish and the community reflects a “circular economy” model, based on the use of local resources to grow the common good, as often highlighted by Pope Francis.
This neighborhood of Naples is the only Italian one in the ranking of the 20 coolest neighborhoods in the world
